Spring home and garden: Add edibles to the landscape

Raising a few veggies and herbs is a growing trend, although for new gardeners the idea of creating a garden might seem overwhelming. Space and sunlight are also limiting factors, but there are ways to work around them. They key is to think outside the box of a traditional vegetable garden.

In yards with existing landscaping, growing a few vegetables may only require planting. Just pick a spot that receives at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight and is far enough away from mature trees to avoid root competition. Start small, as the garden always seems bigger in July.

Planting is the easy part. Tuck a tomato plant, a few pepper plants, or an eggplant in front of the shrubs, leaving a few feet on each side for the plant to grow and still allow access to harvest the fruit. For tomato plants, choose a determinate variety (listed on the tag) for a more kempt look, or use a trellis to stake the plant instead of a tomato cage. Cherry tomatoes are especially pretty when loaded with fruit and make a nice option along a walk or driveway where they are easily picked. Peppers and eggplants will vary a little in height and plant size by variety, with fruit adding a little color to the landscape as well.

For taller veggies like the tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant, add cheery flowers to strategically hide the lower stems of the vegetable plants. Marigolds, zinnias, and annual salvias are all about the right height and will bloom throughout the season.

Basil, oregano, garlic chives, and other herbs blend right in with perennial flowers. Just avoid planting mint plants directly in the garden as they may take over. Mint is best kept in a container or other enclosed space where its spreading roots can be kept in check. Oregano often survives the winter, so plant it along a border or somewhere it can remain from year to year.

Swiss chard is an especially pretty green that grows well from spring to frost. There are smooth leaved and curly leaved varieties, different heights, and color variations, including plants with red, yellow and orange stems. Select a variety that works well with other plantings or plant a rainbow mixture for maximum color variation.

The regular wood or bark mulch used commonly for landscapes is fine around the edible plants if straw and prairie hay seem unattractive.

In the absence of usable landscape beds, try containers. Use very large pots if possible to allow for maximum root growth, especially with larger vegetable plants. All of the aforementioned plants are great for pots, along with lettuces, spinach, kale, and even strawberries and blueberries. For tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, and beans, look for varieties specifically recommended for containers if possible for best success.